The Primal Hunter

Jake landed on top of the barn as he looked through a broken rooftop window. He saw even more bovines inside, but they weren’t the first thing he noticed. It was the huge creature standing on top of an elevated platform, looking straight back at him.

”So, you are the one who’s been tracking me?” it asked in a rough voice.

Jake saw no reason to hide as he leaped through the window and landed just inside – standing in mid-air.

He saw a hulking Minotaur standing on what looked like a small stage, wearing simple garbs and wielding a staff. It was a bit over three meters tall, with curling bronze horns extending from its head. It looked quite familiar to the creature he had imagined, and his Identify made him aware that this was very likely the creature he had been tracking.

[Minotaur Mindchief – lvl ???]

”That would be me,” Jake answered as he stared down at the monster. He could feel its presence and get an estimate of it as he considered if he could fight it… stronger than the Thunder Roc and Storm Elemental… but differently.

But his intuition and danger sense didn’t scream at him or warn him like when he faced truly powerful enemies… yet he still had some reservations.

”Did you enjoy my work? It was… liberating to do,” the Minotaur said as it smiled up at him. ”I sincerely hope you can appreciate it. It is rare to find one who walks the same path.”

Jake looked confused down at the monster but decided to play along. He felt like there was some kind of misunderstanding, and if he could exploit that, he was more than willing to.

”It wasn’t exactly my style,” he answered.

”To crush the humans is something one should take pleasure in, is it not? Those accursed monkeys are now but prey to us,” the Minotaur chuckled as he motioned towards the back of the room.

Jake had already noticed them before, but looking at the cages at the back wall closer still made him frown.

There had to be at least a hundred people stashed into small cages, lined up neatly. All of them stood, sat, or were on the ground, their eyes totally blank as they just stared into empty space - all under the mental influence of the Mindchief.

”A bit crude and unnecessary,” Jake answered, a bit of contempt leaking into his voice.

”Hah, one of efficiency I see,” the Minotaur chuckled, not at all offended. ”But what other reason but pleasure is there to slay these monkeys? They are inferior now, remnants of the past to be crushed and forgotten.”

Jake frowned a bit again as he finally put two and two together. It thinks I am a monster, one that kills weaker humans as it does.

It… honestly shouldn’t be that surprising. While Jake did look humanoid, the only actual body part visible was two beastly eyes. The two wings on his back were surely not helping him look human either. He couldn’t even be Identified, making it even less obvious what race he was.

As to why it believed he hunted humans… well, because he had plenty of human blood on him. The girl he carried earlier hadn’t exactly been clean, and he had also come into contact with plenty of blood as he chased down the monster in front of him.

I can use this, but…

”Awfully talkative,” Jake said, wondering quite a bit about that part. While it didn’t exactly fall into the trope of the evil villain explaining his plans, it was pretty damn close.

attack at

with pity. They were all just standing there, sometimes bumping into their neighbor or looking at the ground for signs of

many had, but he could understand it. People were just built differently, and while he could

also social animals. So… had the poor genocidal Minotaur really

cow wanted to kill them, he could kind of understand it, but

said, and Jake

auctions before the initiation. Auctions of what you may ask?” the monster began, as the Minotaur’s mood suddenly turned murderous as he roared. ”MY KIND! SOLD AS ITEMS TO

I finally understood - and I remembered - every second of every day. I was forced to breed; my life and the life of my kind treated as if we weren’t even alive. Born

roles reversed, with the humans now the cattle and we the lords of their

the insane Minotaur for a while. Okay, yeah, he kinda got its need to kill a few humans and farmers based on how the farming industry

to kill. He didn’t need to humiliate or torture. This Minotaur was

there to go kill, but instead, you have sent your kin there to die,” Jake asked, genuinely interested to know

us up before slaughter?” the monster smiled. ”I need them to be big and strong before it is time

”By killing your kin?”

Those who reach their limits and can no longer progress… their fates are to wait for death anyway, better for them to help the next generation. A herd too large can be detrimental, and it is only right to weed it out for

Herd Leaders outside

my kin to ascend as I have has proven… difficult. I am merely helping one of them do so. Let the human settlement become the feast that shall be

it finally turned

welcome you to join my herd, even if you are not

I do that?” Jake

an honor to serve those more powerful? I sense your power, but that final step is not easy. I would be more than happy to have a

It was hard to compare the creature that created the gruesome scenes in the farmhouses and the polite cowman that stood in front of him. He had yet to show even a single sign of aggression, and while he wasn’t sure how it would react if he rejected, its offer at least seemed sincere. Heck, it hadn’t even tried any

still in E-grade, and all logic dictated that the Minotaur was stronger than

into moral classics and arguing how you are becoming that which you

get in a good sneak attack? For sure. But Jake had decided to show the monster the basic fucking decency that it hadn’t shown anything else.

Mindchief said, looking up at him with a confused expression. ”Impossible… humans are weak, feeble creatures. You carry the presence of a predator

are weak; some are strong. Some are cruel; some are kind. To blame the entire human race is just stupid;

facial expression changed. From the rather kind-looking smile and welcoming demeanor, its eyes got a red sheen as its entire

towards him, and Jake swiftly dispelled the mana on his feet, and with a flap of his wings, soared up through the

hunting down weaker prey… pursuing revenge against them. A limited path with no future, far too confined. You don’t need more power to do what you wanted… satisfied to stay in this small area.

up as he began channeling Infused Powershot. He had marked the

the Minotaur. His Mark told him it still stood unmoving inside the building below… but he trusted his sphere more than

that is. He dodged another swipe from the staff as he fired a blast of

the same time, Jake’s Mark also snapshotted to the figure in front of him… making him aware it indeed was the same creature. Mental magic

struggle when the fight is already

boil and several holes opened up all over his body, spewing out blood like